dumbshow | was i ever truly off my bullshit

was i ever truly off my bullshit

[When Kirin Jindosh's house falls into the sea, he almost doesn't realize it's happening. No alarms have been activated, no sensors in his floors alert him to the presence of an intruder; even the mechanisms of his house are silent as the grave, on this completely ordinary day. Were there anything amiss in his house, he would know... and nothing appears to be wrong.

He hasn't eaten in two days. It's unimportant, but he's pushed his hunger to the point of distraction and now needs to put something in his body before he starts to slip in his work. It's this that gets him out of his lab and skulking directly down to the kitchens instead of waiting around for someone to bring him food in the dining area; the cooks aren't pleased to see him in their space (it isn't theirs), but they never are, and Jindosh can eat a pear in peace for five minutes thanks to their studiously avoiding his gaze.

His cooks are among the best of his staff, all things considered. But so it happens that he is not in the high, ocean-overlooking part of his home when it begins to fall. He feels a faint rumble beneath the floor and pauses, head tilted to listen. Somewhere, something creaks. And then something tears.

All at once his perfect home becomes a place of chaos: guards abandoning posts, staff and servants running in every direction, the clockworks not knowing what to do with themselves in the absence of an enemy to put down. Jindosh himself moves like a spectre, the shock of his home's demise too great to spur him into doing something like moving more quickly. Against all odds it's a maid (he knows her face, Maybe if he had a family, but that kind of thing doesn't even occur to him, his home remembers) who sees the master of the house staring dully out of a window as it splinters and does something about it, grabbing his hand and taking off at a run before he can find his voice to object.

The house crumbles. Glass shatters, wood splinters and stone all but dissolves as if it were never the marvel of engineering it was built to be. Metal screams and snaps as it bends in ways it was never intended to and Jindosh has no words for the feeling he experiences as his life's work, years of work and decades of research, slip into the sea like they were never there. How? he wonders. How, how, how? No answer comes to him; his greatest defeat is this, and though he can see no enemy that caused this, he knows: his house is flawless, and if it falls then his enemy has bested him without ever appearing before him.

A worthy opponent, despite the consequences.

Outside the carriage is somehow still working, but it throws itself off its track when a chunk of his waiting room wall lands on the station behind it. Jindosh and the maid are tossed limply into the grass, and the maid scrambles to her feet to continue running while Jindosh sits up to watch his house fall to rubble and dust. He thinks he can see his silvergraph lenses glinting in the afternoon sunlight as they fall, but perhaps he imagined it.

He's still sitting there watching when the dust has settled. When a dark-clothed figure covering her face stalks toward him, says nothing to him as he looks up into the eyes of his own destruction, the Empress, says nothing as she tosses the cracked shell of a clockwork soldier's head into his lap and walks away.

He's still sitting there when the sun begins to set, on the hill, on everything. She may as well have just killed him, he thinks as he finally rises to go pick through his own rubble. It would have been more merciful than this.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[yeah he wants that dick

Or: he gives Paolo a look, somewhat exasperated because of course he knows he'll need to make every individual Howler sit still and be measured for this, and of course he knows it's going to take some time... it's not as if he has anything better to do, and besides, there's something thrilling in a distinctly lowbrow way about these thugs tearing their way across Karnaca armed to the teeth with Jindosh-brand technology. Maybe he'll start printing a logo on their wristbows as an extra big "fuck you" to the nobility.]

Well, I am going to need them to cooperate for more than ten minutes, this time. [What wacky misadventures have Jindosh and the Howlers been up to before this?! Use your imagination.] And you will be paying for the requisite materials, of course...

[He just wants to do this... for fun... Please don't mistake this as an act of charity because it is most certainly an act of showing off.]

Why? Are you going to give me another spare room? [lol...gay]

Well... [well, he is gay, but,] Not exactly.

[He could just say it right now, but he hesitates. In hindsight, his actual plans are a bit much. A whole apartment, in a district just as, if not more expensive than where Jindosh’s house had sat outside of? He’s not paying for it so much as evicting the previous occupant, but still. It also means he won’t have any obligation to come back here, and for some reason, that doesn’t sit right with Paolo. It leaves him with an uncomfortable, sinking feeling in his chest that Mindy could probably explain but he hates the way she already knows.

So he bites his tongue, instead laughing and moving to brush the hand behind him off.]

I’ll put in for the materials. Satisfied?

Hmm. [He didn't actually ask for something, so apparently Paolo just wants to give him gifts? That's nice and not entirely unexpected, given how Paolo just... renovates entire floors of buildings for him... and so on. To say Jindosh is happy at the Crone's Hand is something of a misinterpretation; it's noisy and there are far too many people in far too small a space, even if he retreats to the upper floor where the other Howlers dare not tread. However, he is... somewhat content. Accustomed to it now would be a better explanation. He's used to it.

Heckling Paolo is part of the deal, and Jindosh withdraws his hand from his neck only to hold it out again expectantly. It's Work Time.]

Enough. Give me your hand, you will be my prototype. [of course he carries a tape measure around? duh?]

[It’s his turn to look st him, somewhat exasperated. He was working? He had a nap planned after this? It isn’t the first time he’s had to put everything on hold for whatever new ideas he has, but still.]

You’re impossible, y’know. [He leans forward to slip his jacket from his shoulders, carefully hanging it over the back of his chair before he relinquishes his hand.] What’re you going to do when I’m not around to be your prototype, hm?

[No, naps are not at all productive, please get with the program. Jindosh only rolls his eyes, tugging this tape measure out of his pocket with one hand and tugging Paolo's hand closer to himself with the other. Hold still while he measures, thanks.]

Planning some kind of excursion? [Is Paolo going on vacation...?? What else but death could free him from Jindosh's incessant heckling about machinery, truly.] You do remember my many successes before we met, of course, so please- don't be coy.

[that's gay]

I like being coy.

[He winks, gayly, tilting his head back to enjoy the view while he's stuck here. The view is just how Jindosh looks every day, but he's usually pretending that he doesn't appreciate it. Badly.]

I mean, all the money rolling in from business is because of our last excursion... I don't need another one. I figure you'd want out of here.

[Paolo does this gay flirty thing and then just stares blankly when Jindosh touches him: what is the truth? Jindosh probably needs more than one very precise hand measurement here, so just wait.]

And where do you propose I go? To the rubble that was my home, no doubt full of squatters and bloodflies already? Crawling back to the Duke, to beg for room and board? Perhaps I should cast aside every ounce of good sense within me and join the Eyeless, sucking at each other's open wounds in foul-smelling nightclub rooms.

[Hey, all of those sound terrible? So.]

[Only he is allowed to be gay? Clearly? Jindosh can't actually like him, he's too smart and refined and many other things Paolo is not. Most of the time.]

There's other places. Karnaca's far from small, you just don't get around much. [Can he move yet? He's already trying to move his hand, spare him.] We can talk about it more later... I fixed one of those machines you made. The ones that play music? Let's enjoy it on the roof tonight.

[Refined....... that's funny. He is very smart though, thanks for noticing. He can move, Jindosh lets go to wind up the measuring tape and consider him. Paolo fixed something? Now that's hot.]

Ah, you've put in motion your plan to try and coerce me into dancing with the others, one step at a time. [jokes...... let him just lean against the desk, he's not going anywhere.] Fine, but I'll need to work on this first.

I don't think there's enough alcohol in the world to make you dance with anyone. [Paolo leans back, crossing his arms over his chest rather than go back to what he was doing. This is the prime opportunity to go back to work for the both of them, and yet they're still here.]

... You really don't want anything for this, Kirin? [He does a once-over, like if he looks hard enough he'll have some proof of his plans.] Don't tell me you're starting to care about all them.

[Yeah, that's probably true, he doesn't want to dance anytime soon. And it's also true that he could go back to work, but... he's here.]

I'm sure you won't believe that the marvel of engineering is its own reward. Just blame my ego, as usual.

[...]

That one with the scar, [He gestures to his face, this is a generic Howler, stay with him,] continues to interrupt my work with insipid chatter. What are you working on this, come have a drink that—it's incessant.

[control ur thug, babe]

[Paolo initially prided himself on how he knew exactly which Howler he was talking about, even with such a vague description... It lasted about ten seconds before the smile slipped and his jaw clenched. He glances past him towards the exit, leaning forward in his seat like he's ready to go, but knows he shouldn't.]

And he doesn't have any reason to think you'd do any of those things. [It's a statement, not a question... Jindosh only answers Paolo? It should stay that way?] I'll... take care of him-- he attitude, whatever. I'll handle it.

[he's not a jealous man, he thinks, this is normal, he thinks,]

[Nah, this seems like jealous man behavior. Jindosh can't help but be the slightest bit smug about it - he says two words and Paolo is ready to go put the fear of God into someone, very flattering. He shrugs, fiddling with a pen or something on the desk idly, like it doesn't really matter.]

Will you, now? That's very helpful of you. [lol......] Then perhaps I will finally get some work done in peace and quiet, afterwards.

Perhaps. [Don't look at him like that, now he has to acknowledge he's a little obvious and play it cool. He takes a deep breath and rises to his feet, stopping just before Jindosh with his hands clasped behind his back.]

Or maybe, when it's all done, I'll come over and ask some things... like what are you working on this and come have a drink that.

[Obvious, but cute. With Paolo volunteering to put himself in his space, Jindosh can't resist reaching out and just sort of tipping his chin up with a little nudge. Hey.]

Ah-ah. I've already agreed to your clandestine meeting on the roof. You of all people should know the limit of my nerves, by now.

[Oh, hey. Paolo blinks, but he manages to keep his head up and maintain eye contact. It's a feat, considering how many times he's mumbled something and walked off.]

I know your nerves aren't really all that grated by me. [Where did all this confidence come from... the adrenaline of knowing he's going to beat someone up, probably.] But if it matters that much, I'll save the wine for tonight.

[Lesson learned: make Paolo jealous more often. That temper directed at other people? Nice.]

The good one in the gold bottle, I hope. Because it's been such a trying day. [Give him... the nicest things. He deserves it.]

I already took it off the shelf. [Don't worry, babe. He's already planned out this whole thing. It's actually really convenient Jindosh came and spoke to him, so he didn't have to find some awkward way to bring it up.

Like how he's awkwardly still standing here because he doesn't have some smooth line to exit on. Hm.] Anything else, because of your trying day?

[Oh, he's planned ahead, how charming. Jindosh raises an eyebrow - as much as he too is still standing here, there was really no guarantee he'd have said yes to this roof date... getting a little ahead of yourself, Paolo...

But hm. Charming.]

Dessert. Something that pairs well with the wine. [pudding,]

Dessert. [Paolo repeats with a chuckles for a moment, up until he realizes he's serious. They don't just go around eating nice things- pear soda is a delicacy. How is he supposed to do this.] Right. Dessert. You... got it. I'll... be there. Tonight. Wine. Dessert.

[His confidence lasted like, a minute, it's fine. He clears his throat, then nods curtly and steps around him to exit the room first. He's keeping his back turned to avoid being judged, but Mindy's already laughing at whatever expression he's made from across the balcony.]

Yes, yes. I trust you can see to it on your own. [Get him a delicious pudding cup... Jindosh appreciates how quickly this went from Paolo being smooth and confident to Paolo mumbling and not knowing what he's doing; love that, excellent performance. He can leave Jindosh here to collect his wristbow drawing, anyway, and maybe he'll go spend the afternoon tinkering with that and some other fun murder projects before it's rooftop time.

Paolo will have to come and get him, but the fourth floor is literally on the way to the roof, so it's fine.]

[It's Mindy who suggests the pudding, and it's Mindy who makes the worst goddamn pudding in Karnaca. It's downright inedible, so much so that they just dump it on the poor guy who had the audacity to try and spend time with Jindosh. Once it comes to light that his usually better half is useless here, Paolo doesn't know what to do with himself. He asks other Howlers, then one of her many visiting boyfriends, then he goes out for a smoke because this shouldn't be so stressful when he's done things like rob the bank.

Mercifully, an old woman saves him from this plight on his trip down to the market for more sugar. It's the same old woman who sold him bandages when he first brought Jindosh to his doorstep, who asks how "nice young man" is doing every time she sees Paolo on the street, and seems to know the same thing that Mindy does about the way he speaks about him but won't say a word. She writes down proper instructions and sends him on his way, so eventually, around a third time as the sun's going down, he gets it right.

He looks ridiculous, angry scuff across his cheek and knuckles split from beating a man unconscious, and then powder from something so domestic like cooking in his hair. How contradictory Jindosh has made him, these past weeks. Knocking on his door, sheepishly:] Hey, finish up. We'll miss sundown.

[Jindosh, meanwhile, does indeed spend the afternoon messing with his new wristbow design. It keeps his hands and his mind occupied away from other things; up on the fourth floor the noises from the yard sound distant enough to fade into the background, which usually gives his addled nerves a rest. He can think up here, although today he thinks about wristbows more than anything else.

But he does wonder just what Paolo has done to that Howler who follows him around. He wonders a few other things about Paolo, things nobody has to badger him about because the rest of the people in the Crone's Hand have learned to leave him well enough alone. If anyone chuckles behind their hands at the way Jindosh always aims to put his hands on Paolo as often as possible, they have the decency to do it somewhere he can't see.

Very generous of them.

By the time Paolo knocks at his door, Jindosh hasn't actually finished this prototype - mostly, but not enough to "finish up" before Paolo starts whining about sundown some more. Jindosh puts it down and moves to the door, eyebrows raising when he takes in the state Paolo's in. Again, he doesn't resist lifting a hand to turn Paolo's cheek to look at the mark there, which he regards with just,] Hmm.

[Hmm. He moves to brush the dust out of his hair next, before it Bothers his sensibilities. There, much better.] Alright, don't loiter.

[He scrunches his nose when Jindosh puts his hand on him, but he's learned by now that putting up resistant will get him nowhere. So he lets him, and he lets himself feel a little shame that he didn't clean up prior to all this, then he moves on. The stairs to the roof creak more than the others from age and disuse, and the door takes some doing to open - he didn't renovate this place, because he didn't think he'd be using it.]

I don't usually let anybody up here. [He says as he steps out, holding the door open as he looks out to the scene with a sigh. The sky is already fading into bright oranges and pinks as the sun has begun to sink behind the buildings ahead, but the entrance to the district does provide something of a view over the cliff Stilton's manor resides on.

As far as accommodations go, there's evidence of dust being poorly swept off the edge of the roof, and still old cigars in an ashtray threatening to fall over it, but otherwise? It's nice. Chairs - one distinctly newer than the other - with cushioned backs are positioned at just the right spot for the scene, and candles are melting on a small table between them holding their gold wine bottle, glasses, and pudding bowls. The audiograph sits behind it all, scuffed like the owner, but with a track waiting to be played. Everything is worn with time, of course, but nothing Paolo owns is pristine.]

It's my place to think about how to move forward. [Go on... literally move forward so he can shut this,] Not the finest view, I'm sure, but... it's something.

Edited 2017-12-29 11:02 (UTC)

[Shh, he's into it. Paolo completely destroyed some guy all because Jindosh said he was a little annoyed? That's how you know it's real!!

This rooftop hideout is very close to pathetic, but it's more effort being made for his own sake, and Jindosh appreciates the sentiment. Paolo doesn't fawn over him waiting for an expensive treat like nobility once did—frankly, once he had his hands on the old Clockworks, he could have stabbed Jindosh in the heart and no one would have questioned him, so to continue making efforts to appeal to him is something. Jindosh chooses to interpret it as appreciation of his grand genius, which is close enough.

He makes his way over to the chairs, looking out at the not-so-fantastic view with a pang of longing for his own home's view, the finest, etc etc. But hmm, yes, chairs ready for sitting in.]

It is. Is this pudding? [how did u know.... jk he only eats like a child, probably hasn't eaten today, sigh,]

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